Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Thanks to everyone who includes Umbrella Prints in their treasuries it is cool to see how and what you mix together. Now that I have made a few of my own Etsy treasuries I appreciate just how long one of these can take to put together and brain power. Here is a sophisticated black, white and red mix by Leah Sawyer- xox

Friday, August 27, 2010

Anna Atkins was possibly the first woman to create a photograph . Her cyanotypes are such an inspiration to me; so carefully arranged and labelled. I studied cyanotype photographic processing in Sydney back in 2000; if I can find some of my prints I'll post them up. Such a beautiful process; we used the sun to expose our work which meant we all ended up with a thousand different blues.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Cold fingers, grey day feel like curling up and pressing repeat on Nick Drake's Milk and Honey.

No matter how well an exhibition goes there is a natural slump that occurs a) post opening night and b) packing up and sending sold work on its way. Every ounce of time and effort has gone into the show and now there is a moment to reflect and regroup and the silence of a blank page is there. I have trained myself to recognize these moments as beginnings not as ends. so deep breathe in and back to the studio.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sometimes it is so hard to see the wood for the trees. But there is a moment inside confusion, the eye of the storm, when everything suddenly is calm and clear. You think you have so much to do but you've already done it. You feel you havent come far but you have traveled the earth and arrived back at the start line (but with a bundle of knowledge to fuel another trip).

This gorgeous image by Adele Enerson spoke to me this week :-)and before I use anymore cliches in one post, for Carly and I, separately and together (as Umbrella Prints) the only way is UP.

This is the cutest floor quilt ever it has eyelashes! A smiling sun flower with rosy cheeks made by Bec from Betsy.B for her Master G. Made with a really beautiful mix of peachy colours, blues and olives, stashed Lecien and Umbrella Prints fabric. We can't ever see enough of what people make with our fabric! Thankyou Bec.

Monday, August 9, 2010

After the buzz and the height of working up to an exhibition I get the post exhibition blues. I know them, I mentally pack for them, can recognize them a mile off. The adrenalin and the momentum stop, we shut the door and wash the wine glasses, it's quiet for a moment.

Friday, August 6, 2010

SALA exhibition Eclipse by Umbrella Prints opened last night. Nest Studio was full to overflowing with visitors (thank you everyone) I didnt get the chance to take any photographs though Carly managed a few. We drank The Fugue care of Nepenthe and the kids made popcorn.

These are new works by Umbrella Prints they are layered in many colours and hand printed by us in the studio. The circles and the sequences are important to me and seemed to resonate with many friends and visitors last night (we have now sold half of the work in our show). Thank you for the feedback, laughs and ....compliments :-)